Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Hong Kong: A stunning late strike from 20-year-old substitute Cheng Chin Lung ensured Kitchee SC recorded Hong Kong’s maiden win in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday.
Having only narrowly lost the first meeting 1-0 in Japan, the Hong Kong side would have been hopeful of picking up their first-ever points and began brightly in front of their home support.
And inside the opening quarter hour, Kitchee’s chances were boosted as Kashiwa went down to 10 men after Masashi Kamekawa was sent off for bringing down Alex Akande on the edge of the area.
Uruguay star Diego Forlan, however, blazed the resulting free-kick high over Kazushige Kirihata’s crossbar.
The former Atletico Madrid man went closer after the half hour with a shot from distance that whistled narrowly by, before Fernando was denied at close range by Kirihata.
Despite Kitchee enjoying the numerical advantage, Kashiwa were a threat on the counter and with seven minutes of the half remaining Yusuke Segawa should have opened the scoring after a surging run into the area, only to screw his shot wide.
The deadlock persisted in the second half, despite forwards for each side, Jordi Tarres and Cristiano, entering the fray after the interval.
Kashiwa’s Ramon Lopes did see an effort cleared off the line, before a well worked team move at the other end saw Krisztian Vadocz force a smart save from Kirihata.
But there was still drama to come in stoppage time.
Having only been brought off the bench with 10 minutes remaining, winger Cheng Chin Lung found himself just inside the area to the right of goal, before curling a stunning strike into the opposite corner to rapturous scenes in the stands of Hong Kong Stadium.
Kitchee now move onto three points and will next host Tianjin Quanjian at Mong Kok Stadium on April 4, while Kashiwa, a point ahead of Kitchee in third, entertain Group E leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.